New state-of-the-art patrol boat, trained police personnel to boost RLECC anti illegal fishing drive
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The arrival of a new patrol boat, fielding of 59 newly trained policemen and more enhanced coordination between and among its member agencies will now boost the anti-illegal fishing drive carried out by the Fishing and Marine Environment Protection (FMEP) of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC).

In the recent meeting last week at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol office here, the committee has decided that the news patrol boat will be utilized to go after illegal fishers who persist in continuing with their destructive fishing activities.

The 18 footer patrol boat, equipped with a 50 horse power engine that can run at a top speed of 20 knots, was donated and turned over by the Spanish government to the FMEP recently.

Francisco Ombao, provincial fishery officer of Albay, will man the operation of the new facility and will ensure its maximum utilization to protect the coastal waters of Bicol.

It was also agreed upon that a stronger coordination protocol will be put in place so that the other support agencies like the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Maritime Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) would be able to respond quickly if the need for a composite group arises.

During the same conference, Police Supt. Adelio Castillo of PNP Bicol reported that 59 policemen from the different provincial, coastal city and municipal police stations are ready for deployment to assist the committee in its renewed drive to go after illegal fishers

Castillo said these police officers underwent an orientation cum training under the Bicol regional office of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on the latest fishery laws and detection fish caught by blast fishing or cyanide poisoning.

The Regional Prosecution Office (RPO) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) also committed to see to it that cases filed against illegal fishers will be prosecuted to the fullest. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

Public warned anew on becoming drug couriers

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office here has reiterated the government’s call to the populace, especially among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), not to allow them to fall prey to international drug syndicates’ modus operandi.

PDEA Bicol Regional Director Archie Alzaga Grande said that when traveling abroad, one should be extremely cautious when dealing with strangers on possible ‘padala’ or ‘salisi’ modus operandi in order not to suffer the same fate of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in China already set tomorrow (March 30).

Grande said the agency is one with the entire country in grieving and praying for the fate of the three convicted Filipino drug traffickers Ramon Credo and Sally Villanueva, who will face their fate by lethal injection in Xiamen; and Elizabeth Batain in Shenzhen, all were found guilty of drug trafficking charges by the Fujian People’s Court and the Gunadong High People’s Court.

As the execution date already set tomorrow, PDEA Bicol reminds and urges anew OFWs to become vigilant in dealing with people as they travel abroad.

Grande furthered that drug mules, particularly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), were forced by circumstances and lured with easy money, “but the stakes are definitely high.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the increasing number of Filipino arrested as drug mules abroad, whether they were enticed, duped or recruited as (illegal) drug couriers, is alarming.

Based on DFA data, from two cases in 2003, it jumped to 689 cases as of January 2011.
Task Force on Drug Couriers, co-chaired by PDEA DFA, records show that some 689 cases were filed against Filipino drug couriers who are now in prison or facing death penalty abroad, with 431 (63 percent) female and 258 (37 percent) males.

Data also show that 79 of them are facing the death penalty in China, wherein 73 were granted with a two-year reprieve while six others, including Credo, Villanueva and Batain, with no reprieve. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)


Strengthening Skills Development of FARMC's as partners in Local Governance Training set

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) -- A one-day training for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMC's) will be held on April 28, 2011 at the Provincial Capitol Dome here.

The said activity will be attended by the eleven (11) municipal mayors and vice-mayors, Sangguniang Bayan chairman on agriculture and fisheries, Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO), Agricultural Technician for Fisheries and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council Chairman.

The training "Strengthening Skills Development of FARMC's as Partners in Local Governance Sustainable Fisheries Resources in Catanduanes" aims to identify issues and concerns involved which hinders the active participation of a particular FARMC's to identify the necessary solution and recommend management options for specific MFARMC and to conduct orientation regarding Level of FARMC development.

FARMC in the province has been established since year 2003 but not totally functioned as what Fisheries Administrative Order No. 196 provides, of the government, to achieve sustainable development of fisheries and aquatic resources, attain food security and eradicate poverty among coastal and inland fishing communities and pursuant to the provisions of RA 8550 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. (EABagadiong, PIACatanduanes/mal)

World Vision orients Sorsogon media on social mobilization on tubercolosis project
By Irma A. Guhit

Sorsogon City, March 29 (PIA) -- The World Vision (WV) hosted yesterday an orientation and press conference cum luncheon for the members of the media community here on the Social Mobilization on Tuberculosis (SMT) Project held at Villa Isabel Hotel

Sorsogon City Assistant Health Officer, Dr. Ruel Rebustillo said the activity has provided information to the members of the media community onthe global and local situation of tuberculosis incidence.

Rebustillo added that the public awareness campaign seeking the assistance of the members of the media community here is in consonance with the yearly celebration of the World TB Day awareness celebrated every March 24.

According to the report of the WV the implementation of the SMT through its Global Fund assisted project here, tuberculosis is considered a global epidemic and should be addressed collectively with the active participation of the media.

Rebustillo stressed that the global and local scenarios on tuberculosis show that the disease is the cause of deaths of about 1.6 million people each year, mostly in the third world countries.

In the Philippines 75 Filipinos die from TB everyday, making it the sixth cause of death and of sickness in the country.

The Philippines ranks ninth worldwide in TB and ranks third among western Pacific countries with highest number of TB cases as of the WV findings

According to Rebustillo, the TB facts gathered from global to local context around the world showed an 8.8 million people infected with TB each year and 2 to 3 million people die of TB every year.

According to the report given by Rebustillo based on the WV findings TB is killing the most productive members of society aged 30-59 years old and who are mostly male.

The Philippines loses around P26.4 billion income due to premature deaths from TB and an untreated TB patient can infect 10-15 people in a single year according to the report.

The WV in its thrusts to implement through the Global Fund a response to the high incidence of the TB in the Philippines is now on its second phase of implementation here.

The first phase of the SMT here was started in October 2006 to 2008 while the second phase was started last January 2009 to continue this 2011.

Based on the report given by Rebustillo, the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) case findingsin this city has a record of 95 cured TB adult patients as of last year , with 96 infiltrative and 40 cavitaries cases.

This year through sputum testing 65 are undergoing a 6-month treatment while cases of 42 infiltrative and 18 cavitaries found out through chest X-rays.

Number of children tested with PPDs summed up to 545 while 103 adults were found out to be sputum positive done through contact tracing provided by the Tuberculosis Task Force Volunteers.

Case detection rate provided by the National Epedimiology Center (NEC ) showed that in 2010 through the TB Task Force tracking, out of the 621 case- findings 96 were found out to be positive which is 19% of the referrals made by the Sorsogon City TB Task Force conducted here aside from those considered as walk ins.

Rebustillo also stressed that tuberculosis infection is brought about by the bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis which is usually transmitted through coughing from persons infected with tuberculosis and inhaled by another person.

The old belief that persons who smokes and drinks can have tuberculosis is not true while smoking and drinking can aggravate the situation of the person with tuberculosis and can cause

Symptoms of persons infected with tuberculosis include fever present every afternoon, loss of weight, loss of appetite, continuous coughing for almost two weeks, and having chest and back pains.

Rebustillo said that it is always recommended to consult the doctor or those from the barangays their health centers for easy and early detection..

Tuberculosis is curable and it is always suggested to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits which will always aid the body and will strengthen body resistance.

The World Vision City Development Officer, Leo C. Legaspi has requested the assistance of the media community here in Sorsogon to continue its partnership with non-governmental organizations in popularizing programs that will provide the public awareness like the prevention and elimination of tuberculosis.

Several members of the media community were in attendance yesterday coming from the print, broadcast, television and the event facilitated through the assistance of the PIA Sorsogon.

A project launch for the acknowledgment of 260 TB Task Force Volunteers followed at the St. Loiuse de Marillac College at 3:00 PM attended by Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda and former Governor Sally Ante-Lee.

The fight of tuberculosis and HIV Aids is one of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals that falls under goal number 6. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

Sorsogon City concludes Fire Prevention Month with tree planting and blood letting
By Bennie A Recebido

Sorsogon City, (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) station here conducted today a tree planting activity in Abuyog Elementary School as part of the 45th observance of Fire Prevention Month this March.

“This activity is also part of the BFP’s social responsibility to help protect the environment and further shows that the BFP as one of the line agencies of the government fully supports activities as such to send message to the community that we are not only concerned about public safety but also on environmental issues as well,” said City Fire Marshal Renato Marcial.

It can be noted that on Saturday, March 26, the BFP office here had also conducted a clean-up drive in Barangay. Caricaran, Bacon District, Sorsogon City.

To culminate the Fire Prevention Month, a blood letting activity will be held at the Sorsogon City Central Fire Station tomorrow, March 30.

“Through this endeavor, the BFP aims to strengthen its relation to the public for them to develop the trust and confidence to the programs of the government,” Marcial said.

He also said that the BFP persistently appeals for the cooperation of the community in their advocacy in promoting fire safety not only during the month of March but at all times in order to ensure the safety of everyone.

The Sorsogon City Central Fire Station have also conducted within the month various activities such as motorcade, information drive, feeding, company inspection, open house visitation, Ugnayan sa Barangay and fire truck visibility. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

LGU-San Jose awards 20 fishing boats in 2 coastal barangays
By Danilo C. Abad

SAN JOSE, Camarines Sur, (PIA) -- A total of 20 non-motorized fishing boats were awarded by the local government of San Jose in Partido area for two coastal barangays.

The boats coast Php5,500 each.

Dolo Fishermen and Telegrafo Fisher Folks Association, all in coastal villages of the said town, were the beneficiaries of already 10 units of bancas distributed respectively last December 4 and March 16, 2011.

Mayor Antonio B. Chavez of this town said that fishery livelihood program aims to help the fisher folks to have their own bancas knowing that fishing is their main source of income.

Chavez also said that the Pangkabuhayan Program forms part of the campaign to boost the productivity of fishing industry here and aim to alleviate the status of living of the residents in order to survive from poverty.

With the assistance from municipal government, the beneficiaries are very thankful in present leadership of the chief executive by providing and extending support to the majority of the fisher folks throughout the coastal barangays.
Meanwhile, additional 5 fishing boats for Telegrafo Fishermen are to be distributed as soon as construction of the said bancas will be completed and another 3 coastal barrios of Tagas, Manzana and Sabang will also be given fishing boats in the next coming months.

The municipality of San Jose has 7 coastal barangays with 11.30 kilometer shorelines along the Lagonoy Gulf. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)